With Big 12 play yet to begin, West Virginia is now 2-0 without Tucker DeVries.
The Mountaineers increased their winning streak to four games on Saturday with an 84-61 win at home over Bethune-Cookman.
West Virginia encountered a couple of scares throughout the game, including a 12-0 B-CU run, but the Mountaineers ultimately cruised past the Wildcats, who are coached by two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus.
Without his star son, Darian DeVries once again looked to Javon Small to carry the load offensively. Small scored 27 points and assisted on six baskets. He also grabbed six total rebounds, blocked two shots, and marked one steal.
Opting for a guard-heavy lineup, DeVries also counted on Jonathan Powell on Saturday, playing the freshman 36 minutes as a starter. Eduardo Andre, the Mountaineers’ only true center, was kept out of the starting lineup and only played in seven minutes due to early foul trouble.
Powell shot 4-for-9 from three to score 14 points while also using his 6-foot-6, 191-pound frame to grab five rebounds. His performance comes off of a 17-point outing on Tuesday where he was WVU’s top scorer off the bench.
Tucker DeVries’ absence was felt despite the win, but overall the Mountaineers’ roster construction remains mostly in tact, just with a downgrade in talent and leadership that led to occasional issues.
“I think the flow got really ugly at some times tonight,” coach DeVries said postgame.
West Virginia improved to 8-2 with the win, nevertheless. With one nonconference game remaining, whether or not DeVries can return in time for the Big 12 opener on New Year’s Eve against Kansas is unknown. Until then, the Mountaineers will rely on its top scorer of the season to keep them competitive.
WVU closes out its four-game home stay against Mercyhurst on Sunday, Dec. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.
Photo by Tanner Mountz, Blue Gold Sports
